Temecula-based charter network selected for national cohort and proudly joins 36 school districts and 16 state-level entities that are building governance-first AI policy

TEMECULA, Calif., Nov. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Elite Academic Academy www.eliteacademic.com, a California public charter school network serving TK–12 students through personalized, flex-based learning models, announces its selection to the 2026–2027 EDSAFE AI Alliance District Policy Lab. Led by the EDSAFE AI Alliance, a project of InnovateEDU, and supported by a multi-year grant from Google.org, the Policy Lab brings schools and state education organizations together to build clear, responsible artificial intelligence policy for TK–12.

Responsible AI Innovation by Design
Elite is one of 14 districts and charter networks in the new EDSAFE AI cohort. Elite’s selection reflects its belief that AI belongs in education when it is introduced responsibly and with care. “As AI becomes part of how students learn and teachers teach, our responsibility is to lead with clear guardrails, so innovation serves students and never outpaces their safety,” said Ashlea Kirkland-Haynes, CEO of Elite Academic Academy.

The Policy Lab network now includes 36 school districts and 16 state-level entities and reaches more than 654,300 educators and millions of TK–12 students nationwide. Participants use an open-science, evidence-based approach grounded in the EDSAFE AI SAFE Framework: Safety, Accountability, Fairness & Transparency, and Efficacy. Together, the labs co-design an open-access “policy stack,” which includes acceptable use policies, parent communication guidelines, and ethical frameworks that schools can adapt. Elite will take part alongside peers across the country, from large urban educational systems to small independent schools.

Elite’s Unique Role in a National Community of Safe AI Practices
Membership gives Elite a more structured way to address questions of student data privacy, academic integrity, and teacher support as AI tools evolve. Joining the EDSAFE AI Alliance also complements Elite’s work in immersive learning (including partnerships with Meta and Knoxlabs) and its plans to expand the thoughtful use of artificial intelligence and virtual reality. EDSAFE AI Project Manager Andrea Claver said the cohorts are “turning high-level ethical principles into practical operational reality for their local communities,” which is the outcome Elite seeks for its own students, families, and educators.

Elite’s Portrait of a Learner, centered on Critical Thinking, Communication, Collaboration, Creativity, Curiosity, and Compassion, will guide how AI policy is applied in its Homeschool, Virtual, and Flex Academies. “Technology should deepen the Portrait of a Learner, not replace it. This work helps us keep learning deeply human while preparing students for an AI-shaped world,” said Kirkland-Haynes. The collaboration also gives Elite’s California-credentialed teachers access to expert networks and peer practice as they implement and use new AI tools with confidence.

Benefits for Elite Students and Families
For families, participation means clearer expectations and stronger protections around how AI is used in their children’s learning. EDSAFE AI leaders have emphasized that school systems should not have to navigate safety, equity, and data privacy in isolation. Elite’s participation helps ensure its students benefit from shared expertise and tested guidance. As policies take shape, Elite plans to keep its community informed and to share what it learns.

About EDSAFE AI Alliance
The EDSAFE AI Alliance, a project of InnovateEDU, uses the SAFE Benchmarks Framework to align stakeholders toward equitable outcomes for learners and better environments for educators, providing targeted guidance and guardrails for safe, ethical progress. To learn more about the EDSAFE AI Alliance Policy Labs, visit www.edsafeai.org/policylabs

About Elite Academic Academy
Founded in 2018, Elite Academic Academy is a California public charter school network offering homeschool, virtual, flex, and independent study programs for TK-12 students. Rooted in personalized learning, academic excellence, and whole-child development, Elite serves students across multiple regions with a commitment to innovation, equity, and measurable student growth.

To learn more about Elite Academic Academy or enroll, visit eliteacademic.com/enroll-now

Media Contact:
Elite Academic Academy
PR@eliteacademic.com

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SOURCE Elite Academic Academy